Coffee dispensing device and method

ABSTRACT

A coffee dispensing device is provided with a transport device that couples various components for the processing of unroasted coffee beans together. For example a roaster may be coupled to a grinding and brewing device to enable the transfer of roasted coffee beans between the roaster and grinder/brewer. Also, the transport device may transfer the roasted coffee beans from a roaster to an output port so that roasted coffee beans may be obtained. An automated coffee transaction device (ACTD) is also provided to automate aspects of the purchasing of coffee. A service delay projection calculator is also provided to estimate the expected wait time of a customer entering a queue.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/351,589, filed Jan. 23, 2002, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

SUMMARY

A coffee dispensing device provides for the transportation mechanism forraw and/or roasted coffee beans at a retail location and dispensescoffee or coffee beans for retail purchase. The invention can allowcoffee to be roasted, transported, ground, and/or brewed without needingto be packaged, staged, or transported manually by store staff. Becausebatching, weighing, and storing of roasted coffee may be eliminated,coffee is brewed from beans that were just roasted. This cansignificantly enhance brewed coffee quality, reduce product loss andtherefore cost of goods, and reduce labor requirements. The invention,in various embodiments, comprises apparatus and methods for makingcoffee and providing roasted coffee beans.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be apparent from the description herein and theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a coffee dispensing device according toan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a further example of a coffee dispensing deviceaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a automated coffee transaction device according to afurther embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a service delay projection calculator according to anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the invention includes the transport of coffee beansfrom a roaster to a brewer. As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, anillustrated embodiment of a coffee dispensing device 100 according to anembodiment of the invention includes in-store roasting, and thengrinding and brewing to create fresh/high quality coffee beverages. Theroasting, grinding and brewing may optionally be almost immediate, e.g.on—demand at the time of a customer's order.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, various examples of the invention mayinclude coffee dispensing devices 100, 101 having a roaster 200 coupledto a transport device 300. The transport device 300 may include apropulsion mechanism 350. Also coupled to the transport device 300 maybe a brewer 400. In some implementations, the brewer 400 may include agrinder. Alternatively, the grinder may be separately located andcoupled to the transport device 300. A loading bin 500 is coupled to thetransport device 300 and can receive, and optionally store, unroastedcoffee beans.

The type of coffee bean, and subsequent coffee beverage, is not limitedto any particular type of coffee bean-derived beverage. For example, theproduct produced may include, but is not limited to, the following:mountain blend type coffee; decaffeinated coffee; espresso; andcappuccino. Other variations of beverages will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art.

The roaster 200 may be a roaster known in the art or may be a customizedroaster. One example of a roaster known in the art is the Quantik AirRoaster available from Roastery Development Group of Redwood City,Calif. A plurality of roasters may be used, of similar or differenttypes.

The transport device 300 physically connects components for theprocessing of unroasted coffee beans into a brewed cup of coffeetogether. For example, the transport device 300 may include tubes orducting. In one implementation, transparent tubes are used. The tube mayprovide a conduit through which the beans will physically travel amongcomponents of the coffee dispensing device. In one implementation, suchas is shown in FIG. 2, the transport device 300 may be located at leastpartially over a portion of a store in which customers may be located,thereby transporting coffee beans over customers. Optionally, the tubeor ducting will be food grade. In another embodiment, there can beseparate tubes or ducting forming different paths to each of themultiple brewers or roasters, or other components. In one variation, onepath may be used to transport caffeinated coffee beans and a separatepath to transport decaffeinated coffee beans. Also, multiple paths couldbe used for a frequently used type of coffee bean, such as a house bean,and another path used for other bean types. One or more valves 310 maybe provided within the transport device to direct the coffee beans todifferent locations. For example, electromechanically-actuated valvesmay be positioned within the tubing, or ducting to control/direct theflow of beans within the transport device to direct the beans to or fromthe desired components.

The propulsion mechanism 350 is provided to facilitate movement of thecoffee beans through the transport device. In one embodiment, a positivepressure differential is created in the tube or duct that willfacilitate the transport of coffee beans. In another embodiment,negative pressure differential, e.g. a vacuum, is created within thetubing or ducting to facilitate transport of coffee beans from one pointin the device to another. It is understood that a combination ofpositive and negative pressures may be used within an implementation ofthe invention.

According to another embodiment, the transport device may include belts,buckets or cups to transport coffee beans. In the case of belts, bucketsor cups, the propulsion mechanism is adapted to move the belts, bucketsor cups among components of the coffee dispensing device in order tomove the coffee beans.

One or more grinders may be provided to grind coffee for brewing. Thegrinder may be coupled to the roaster via the transport device. Thegrinder may be attached to one or more brewers 400, optionally by way ofthe transport device. Or, the grinder and brewer may be combined in anintegrated unit. One example of a combined brewer/grinder known in theart that may be used is the Wega Gemini Mod. Latte available from Wegaof Italy. Optionally, the grinder and brewer are located at a point ofsale. The grinder and brewer may be configured for operation by acustomer and/or by store employees. The brewer can function as adispensing device for the brewed coffee. Optionally, roasted coffeebeans can optionally be stored in a portion of the transport device 300coupled to the grinder and/or brewer or a combined grinder/brewer unit.If several grinder/brewer units are provided, various types of coffeebeans or ground coffee could be stored within the units or a portion ofthe transport device 300 coupled to the unit. Also, as shown in FIG. 2,a grinder/brewer unit may be provided with multiple connections to thetransport device 300 to enable various types of coffee beans or groundcoffee to be stored within one or more of the connections to thegrinder/brewer device.

According to another embodiment a control panel 600 is provided. Thecontrol panel may allow an individual to turn on or off the coffeedispensing device and/or control the flow of coffee beans throughout theapparatus. The control panel may control the length of roasting time ofthe coffee beans. In one embodiment, the control panel may be linked tothe propulsion mechanism to control the air flow within the tubes and/orto the valves to control valve position and therefore air flow directionand coffee bean travel within the system.

Optionally, an interface panel 700 can be provided at a locationaccessible to a customer, so as to allow for the selection of a coffeetype. Alternatively, the control panel 600 can select the coffee type.

The loading bin 500 is provided to function as a receiving port forunroasted coffee beans into the transport device 300. Optionally, theloading bin 500 may be coupled to a storage bin. Alternatively or inaddition, the loading bin 500 may be easily accessible for an employeeto insert coffee beans when necessary.

Another embodiment of the invention provides for the transport ofunroasted coffee beans, through a roaster, to one or more output ports800, without grinding or brewing. The roasted coffee beans can begathered at the output port for sale to a customer. Various types ofroasted coffee beans can be stored in each of the output ports 800, or aportion of the transport device 300 coupled to the output port 800.Optionally, a grinder may also be coupled to the output port to provideground coffee for sale to a customer. The output port may optionally belocated at a point of sale.

Aspects of various embodiments may be used in combination. For example,pressurized tubing may be used in combination with a belt in thetransport device. By way of example, a belt may be used to move coffeebeans from the receiving port to the roaster and tubing used to movecoffee beans from the roaster to the grinder and/or brewer.

According to a method of the invention, the coffee dispensing device100, 101 can receive unroasted coffee beans and transport them amongseparated components for the roasting of coffee beans and subsequentgrinding of the coffee beans and brewing of coffee from the groundcoffee. In one implementation, the roasting may take 5 to 6 minutes, butmay be varied. Although the invention is not so limited, roasted coffeebeans can be stored within the coffee dispensing device to enablebrewing of coffee between 4 to 24 hours after roasting to enhance theflavor of the roasted coffee, although the brewing may begin immediatelyafter roasting and grinding, if desired.

In another embodiment, this device can work with other embodimentsdescribed herein.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, an Automated CoffeeTransaction Device (ACTD) is a device, which will facilitate the sale ofcoffee products. ACTD will allow a person to get a cup of coffee withouthaving to complete a typical transaction at the point of sale (POS). TheACTD user will not have to pay cash, or use a charge card and sign areceipt. ACTD customers may charge transactions to, or preload the ACTDwith a specific dollar amount. Alternatively or in addition, an accountfor an individual person or group can be set up.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 3, an illustrated embodiment of theinvention includes the following components. A beverage dispenser deviceis provided. The beverage dispenser device is adapted to dispense anytype of liquid product. For example, liquid products include, but arenot limited to, coffee.

A sensor is provided and adapted to read an identifier on a beveragecontainer. In one embodiment, the sensor is at the point of sale. Thesensor serves to capture the information relayed from the identifier.

A controller is also provided. The controller will obtain informationfrom the sensor. In one embodiment, the controller can be configured tostore data pertaining to the identifiers and hence beverage containersand, optionally, customers. In another embodiment, the controller mayoptionally be configured to interface with a database for use inconducting transaction.

The database may be a national database, including information fromidentifiers nationwide, or may only include identifier information froma region, state, town or store. The database may be configured toassociate an identifier with a customer. The database may also associatean identifier with a wide variety of customer information. Examples ofsuch customer information may include contact information, purchasehistory, eligibility for pricing discounts, billing information, accountinformation and any association to other customers or groups. Furtherexamples of customer information include those typically used incustomer loyalty programs. In one embodiment, the database will containa list of items purchased by the customer. A further embodiment involvesthe use of customized pricing information to enable different pricing ofbeverages for different consumers or other promotional initiativescustomized to specific purchase patterns or customers. A furtherembodiment allows the typical purchase selection of the customer to beidentified by the controller and communicated to a computer ordisplayed. A further embodiment involves a centralized database to tracktransactions at a plurality of points of sale, including, optionally,all points of sale.

The various components of the invention may be integrated, located neareach other or be separated by thousands of miles. Various configurationsof communication between the identifier, sensor, controller, beveragedispensing device and optional database as described herein will beapparent to one of skill in the art. Examples include, but are notlimited to, the Internet, local area networking, wide area networking,electrical, optical, wired and wireless configurations and combinationsthereof.

An alternate embodiment includes a beverage container having anidentifier. The beverage container is not limited to any particularshape. The position of the identifier is not limited to any particularregion, but is located to be read by the sensor. The identifier mayserve to identify the container additionally to identify the customerusing the container and optionally to identify the customer using thecontainer. In one embodiment, the identifier is a barcode. In anotherembodiment, the identifier is an electronic chip such as a Smart Chip.In another embodiment, there can be a family of identifiers, enablingidentifiers to be group by various affiliations, such as family orcompany.

In another embodiment, this device can work with other embodimentsdescribed herein.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a Service DelayProjection Calculator is intended to allow a retail location to displayto prospective customers the approximate wait time necessary to beserved at the retail location. One example includes a wait time to get acup of coffee at a coffee store. The system will capture informationpertaining to the number of customers in the queue and currenttransaction intervals to calculate how long a customer entering thequeue should expect to wait before they receive their service.Optionally, the system may capture information relating to when thecustomers entered the queue, or the rate of entry of customers.

In one example, during the morning rush when most customers arecontemplating stopping on their way to work, an embodiment of theinvention will communicate how quickly they can get their coffee so theycan realistically decide if they can fit a stop in.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 4, an illustrated embodiment of theinvention includes a customer sensor to detect customers in the queue,such as by detecting entry and exit of customers from the queue. In oneembodiment, the sensor is one or more turnstiles. In another embodiment,the sensor is one or more infrared sensors. A further embodimentinvolves a light beam that is interrupted as a customer enters the queueand another light beam interrupted as the customer exits the queue.

A display is also provided. The display is adapted to show a person theexpected wait time for service. The information will be updated atregular intervals on an ongoing basis so that customers will always havean accurate projection of the wait time.

A processor is provided and adapted to acquire information from thesensor and provide information to the display.

In this embodiment, the processor determines the number of customers inthe queue by obtaining information from the customer sensor. By knowingthe rate of customers leaving the queue and the number of customers inthe queue, the approximate wait time can be determined for prospectivecustomers.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises the display, sensor,processor, customer sensor and a transaction sensor. FIG. 3 provides anillustration of this embodiment. The display and processor are asdescribed above. Here, the customer sensor counts customers entering thequeue. According to one embodiment, the transaction sensor interfaceswith a point of sale. In one embodiment, the transaction sensorinterfaces with a cash register. In another embodiment, the transactionsensor comprises a sensor and a computer. In a further embodiment, thetransaction sensor comprises a sensor and a device which can record,analyze, and transfer data to a processor. The transaction sensor willobtain the number of transactions, thereby representing the number ofcustomers that have exited the queue.

In this embodiment, the processor determines the number of customers inthe queue by obtaining information from the customer sensor andtransaction sensor. By knowing the rate of transactions, or customersleaving the queue, and the number of customers in the queue, theapproximate wait time can be determined for prospective customers.

In another embodiment, the display may be provided through a computernetwork, such as the Internet. This will allow a person to accesshis/her wait time before departing for the store or place of purchase.

In another embodiment, this device can work with other embodimentsdescribed herein.

1. A coffee dispensing device, comprising: a roaster to roast aplurality of coffee beans; a grinder coupled to said roaster forgrinding said plurality of coffee beans to produce ground coffee; abrewer coupled to said grinder for brewing coffee from said groundcoffee; and a transport device for coupling said roaster and saidgrinder for transporting said plurality of coffee beans by the use of apropulsion mechanism.
 2. The coffee dispensing device of claim 1,wherein said transport device transports said plurality of coffee beansby the use of a propulsion mechanism using a pressure differentialwithin at least one tube.
 3. The coffee dispensing device of claim 2,wherein said tube is transparent and is configured to transport saidplurality of coffee beans over a customer.
 4. The coffee dispensingdevice of claim 2, wherein said pressure differential includes apositive pressure differential.
 5. The coffee dispensing device of claim2, wherein said pressure differential includes a negative pressuredifferential.
 6. The coffee dispensing device of claim 1, wherein saidtransport device transports said plurality of coffee beans by the use ofa propulsion mechanism using at least one of the group of a belt, abucket and a cup.
 7. The coffee dispensing device of claim 1, whereinsaid grinder is located together with said brewer.
 8. The coffeedispensing device of claim 7, further comprising an interface panellocated with said grinder and said brewer.
 9. The coffee dispensingdevice of claim 1, further comprising a control panel, located apartfrom said roaster, to control said transport device.
 10. The coffeedispensing device of claim 1, further comprising an output port coupledto said transport device for obtaining a plurality of roasted coffeebeans.
 11. A method of transporting coffee beans and dispensing coffee,comprising the steps of: receiving unroasted coffee beans into a loadingbin; transporting the coffee beans to a roaster by the use of atransport device; transporting roasted coffee beans to a grinder/brewer;grinding the roasted coffee beans; and brewing the coffee.
 12. Anautomated transaction device for retail purchases, comprising: abeverage container having an identifier; a sensor to obtain informationfrom said identifier of said beverage container; a beverage dispensingdevice; and a controller coupled to said sensor and said beveragedispensing device to activate said beverage dispensing device dependingon said information from said identifier.
 13. (canceled)